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Thursday, January 21, 2010

As feared, the American public was just further screwed

The Supreme Court just did what was feared they would and that is, they just did away with campaign contribution limits for corporations.

If you don't think your governmental representatives were for sale before, they surely are now.

And if, like me, you saw how our representatives have been "bought" in the past, with campaign contributions, well, ladies and gentlemen, it just got one hell of a whole lot worse.

Here's what just happened:

"The Supreme Court has ruled that corporations may spend freely to support or oppose candidates for president and Congress, easing decades-old limits on their participation in federal campaigns."

"By a 5-4 vote, the court on Thursday overturned a 20-year-old ruling that said corporations can be prohibited from using money from their general treasuries to pay for their own campaign ads. The decision, which almost certainly will also allow labor unions to participate more freely in campaigns, threatens similar limits imposed by 24 states."

Then, to make matters worse (read: get more corporate money into campaigns):

"The justices also struck down part of the landmark McCain-Feingold campaign finance bill that barred union- and corporate-paid issue ads in the closing days of election campaigns."

And, additionally, "The case also does not affect political action committees... Corporations, unions and others may create PACs to contribute directly to candidates, but they must be funded with voluntary contributions from employees, members and other individuals, not by corporate or union treasuries."

Katy bar the door. You watch, next election millions and billions more dollars are going to flood into elections and corporations will be buying legislators and legislation like they haven't been able to nearly forever. At least, not for the last 2 decades and likely not since the beginning of the previous century.

The corporations just got the okay to purchase the best government they want, in their own best interest, that their money can buy.

American public--and common sense--be damned.

Molly Ivins is most surely spinning in her grave.

5 comments:

Dr. Bob Minor, PhD said...

Boy, were we!

Corporate States of America, and the best gov't money can buy.
Now the only reason politicians will do anything for us everyday people is the compassion of millionaires looking down on us poor slobs.

Hyperblogal said...

You're absolutely right Mo Rage.... for the Supremes to say that the individual right of free speech also applies to corporate bodies is akin to when they announced that Dred Scot was "property." You can be so wise you're foolish in the main.

Top of the Chain said...

So go and vote with your pocketbook. Don't buy from the company

Mo Rage said...

I've done that for years, TotC.

Wal-Mart is still the biggest retailer in the world.

Shawk said...

I can see it now.. Politicians wearing Hats and T-Shirts with their Corporate sponsors logos.